Iams, Eukanuba pet food recall expands

Procter and Gamble is expanding its recall of some Iams dry prescription cat food to include all dry pet food made at an Ohio plant -- a total of 60 varieties for dogs and cats -- because of potential salmonella contamination.

Included in the recall are all sizes and varieties of Iams veterinary dry formulas, Eukanuba Naturally Wild, Eukanuba Pure and Eukanuba Custom Care Sensitive Skin dry food. All the pet food has "best by" dates between July 1 and Dec. 1, 2011. Consumers can check the list of UPC codes on the Iams' web site. The pet food was sold at veterinary clinics and stores nationwide and in Canada.

Salmonella infections affect pets and people in much the same way -- symptoms include fever, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Pets may also lose their appetites and can be infection carriers, spreading it to other animals or humans. Although rarely life-threatening, salmonella infections can lead to more serious ailments including arthritis, arterial infections and urinary tract problems.

P&G spokesman Jason Taylor told Consumer Ally the plant in Lewisburg, Ohio was shut down last week as the search for the cause of the potential salmonella contamination continues. The plant has suspended all operations for now. The amount of pet food involved in the expanded recall is the equivalent of 800,000 to 900,000 40-pound bags of dry food.

Consumers who have bought the pet food should discard it and can contact P&G at 877-340-8823 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern, Monday through Friday for a refund. In a statement, P&G said it determined some of the products made at the plant had potentially been contaminated with salmonella, so as "a precautionary measure" it was recalling everything made there.

This marks the third P&G recall of pet food products in as many months because of possible salmonella contamination. More information on those recalls can be found here at Consumer Ally.